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(naruto) another cyborg-verse fic~
Except it's not Sasuke POV. :D MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I even have the perfect icon. *__*
The first time Neji sees it, it is as if all the colors in the world were drained away. White, sinfully fluffy carpet, a silhouette of dull black metal, and wet red dripping from the blades springing from the back of its hand.
White and red and black eyes. Watching him. Weighing him.
Empty. AI?
"I take it Tanaka-san won't be coming to the speech."
Faint surprise in its eyes now -- wishful thinking? Anthropomorphism? He knows better. No emotions to appeal to -- dead secretary, ah, that's why Tanaka left. Affair? Industrial espionage?
Whatever the reason, two deaths have been judged necessary. No need to ask why; no answers forthcoming, nothing to appeal to.
He moves between the white secretary desk and the white wall; combat stance, the fluid crouch of the Gentle Fist. The dark shape is slender; light armor, hopefully thin -- probably quick, though. At least Neji sees no gun. Maybe he'll be swift enough. He doesn't know this make; where are the weaknesses?
"Why," the assassin asks softly, "do you read as Hyuuga Hiashi?"
Neji flinches. Briefly. Barely visible; painfully obvious. He sneers in retaliation, as if the assassin cared what he thinks of it. The palms of his hands tingle with a suppressed charge.
The assassin glances down at them. It shouldn't be able to see.
"Why," Neji counters, not so much soft as carefully smoothed, "do you care?"
"It might become pertinent later."
Neji hisses between his clenched teeth, and puts his feelings away. If he isn't allowed to kill the Hyuugas, no one else will.
"Who paid you?" he asks calmly, and slowly moves in the open space, where no chairs or wastebaskets will get in his way. He's still holding his crouch.
The assassin doesn't move, unnaturally still as it stands over the two crumpled bodies. It hasn't moved at all since Neji walked in. Only its hair; the fan is still whirring softly on a desk behind it.
The computer is whirring too.
"No one."
"That was -- personal?" Neji asks; he doesn't care, he just wants something to say as he steps to the side again -- there's a cable, snaking from the computer to lose itself in a smooth black ponytail.
Outrage; it's stealing data -- whatever! It's tethered. Thin cable, will break easy -- might damage its ports though, that's --
"Don't."
It isn't so much the quiet order that stops him, as the amused undertones. He looks up; the face is a mask, empty and smooth and surprisingly aesthetical. The eyes are red and non-organic and mocking. This isn't an AI, is it? They don't express such subtle feelings in that way.
"I won't let you touch me."
It knows. It knows about Neji's bioelectrical implants. How? They're an exclusive of the Hyuuga corporation. Neji sneers again; he only needs to brush against his armor, just once. It's a toss-up; if he can dodge fast enough...
A blade long like his forearm springs out of the back of the assassin's other hand.
Well. Damn.
"Why do you read as Hyuuga Hiashi?" it repeats smoothly, the blade a dull black that seems to absorb the stark light of the room.
"Why don't you hack into our computers and find out?"
This time it actually snorts. "I will. Later." And reaches up to free the data cable from its port.
Neji strikes, twisting to avoid the blades.
He doesn't die, because the carpet is damp with blood and his foot slips. He doesn't die and it doesn't even hurt; a line of cool dampness against the left side of his chest, ending at his shoulder. In his shoulder. He strikes again, a knee on the floor, aiming for a leg -- the assassin leaps over, lands on a desk.
Its armor is even lighter than Neji thought; the desk barely dents at all. It groans, high-pitched enough to hurt teeth as the assassin shifts, aims its strike. Neji climbs back on his feet; he wants to face his death standing.
Behind them, someone screams. The desk creaks. Neji lifts his hands -- not fast enough -- where is it?
It's crouching on the edge of the window -- blades gone -- Neji doesn't know how he manages to duck the sudden jet of fire. He rolls on the carpet, bumps against the secretary's desk -- pure instinct makes him crawl in the leg space and topple it over his body.
The fire roars on the other side of his shelter. The sprinklers hiss, drenching him. The alarms howl. The interloper is still screaming. He waits for a heartbeat, two, then peeks out quickly -- the window is empty.
The computer is a melted mess of plastic and metal bits. The bodies are charred. Dark smoke fills the other end of the office. Quickly -- in case the assassin is still hiding behind another desk, however unlikely he finds it -- Neji dashes to the door, shoving the spectator along through it.
The heavy fire doors farther down the corridor burst open; Neji pauses, long enough to be recognized, then leans against the wall as security mills around them.
He's vaguely amused that a heavy, fortysomething corporate shark could even scream that loudly.
Someone's talking to him -- security? Paramedic, the badge says. Huh. He can't hear; the siren is still howling, and
he's sitting on the floor. Huh. No white carpet here. Smooth marble. Cool under his hands. White and black, veined -- a red drop.
"... Oh."
Now, of course, it starts to hurt. The colors bleed back into his world; the paramedic has a forest green armband, the corporate screamer a dark blue suit. The walls are cream. He doesn't move as the medic applies pressure to his wound. He's shivering a little. It's just shock; it will pass in a minute.
"Neji."
Hyuuga Hiashi is standing in front of him. He looks angry, sterner than usual, as he stares at the damp, bloody, shredded shirt as if it was a personal affront. Neji clenches his teeth. "You'll have a scar," he comments, maybe a bit snidely.
Something in Hiashi's face tightens. Neji is satisfied. He pushes the paramedic away and straightens up, making sure to stand straight. He doesn't want more questions, so he starts talking first; "Assassin. Light armor, male body type, killed Tanaka-san and Midori-san's secretary before hacking into a company computer."
Hiashi's expression darkens even more, and his eyes narrow. Midori-san has heard his name, and gets into Neji's face, demanding more details. Neji would shove him away, but he can't be that impolite to the host; but Hiashi cuts his business partner short. "My nephew was injured. He almost got killed. He will answer the police's questions later, when he's feeling better; for now he's going home. Come along, Neji."
Neji pushes away from the wall, refusing the hand one of Hiashi's bodyguards offers him, and follows on his heels. He knows he won't see the police before Hiashi and his executive board are done debriefing him. It doesn't much matter; he's used to lying to the authorities by now.
He doesn't relish the prospect of facing that bunch of old vipers. No doubt they will berate him for being reckless; did he think about how much it would cost the Hyuuga to replace him?
No. No, he didn't. He could have run, he knows he could have. There would have been a chance that the assassin wouldn't have been quick enough to catch up.
He's just a clone after all. What does it matter if he dies, in the end. What does it matter to anyone but him.
He didn't run; didn't even think of it. He stayed; he fought. They can't take that away from him. He steels himself, holds close the memory of dull black and blood red death. The feeling of being alive. It's his, nothing but his.
He's still cold; his clothes are damp and stick to his skin. He doesn't let the bodyguard drape a vest across his shoulders as they leave the building. He sinks in the limousine's cushions and closes his eyes, and hopes he scars so thick no surgery will ever erase it.
Well, at least he dodged the rest of the reception.
+
Is that plot I see? It does look like it, indeed.
Too bad I've got no clue where it's going or how it's going to influe on Sasuke's. XD
I even have the perfect icon. *__*
The first time Neji sees it, it is as if all the colors in the world were drained away. White, sinfully fluffy carpet, a silhouette of dull black metal, and wet red dripping from the blades springing from the back of its hand.
White and red and black eyes. Watching him. Weighing him.
Empty. AI?
"I take it Tanaka-san won't be coming to the speech."
Faint surprise in its eyes now -- wishful thinking? Anthropomorphism? He knows better. No emotions to appeal to -- dead secretary, ah, that's why Tanaka left. Affair? Industrial espionage?
Whatever the reason, two deaths have been judged necessary. No need to ask why; no answers forthcoming, nothing to appeal to.
He moves between the white secretary desk and the white wall; combat stance, the fluid crouch of the Gentle Fist. The dark shape is slender; light armor, hopefully thin -- probably quick, though. At least Neji sees no gun. Maybe he'll be swift enough. He doesn't know this make; where are the weaknesses?
"Why," the assassin asks softly, "do you read as Hyuuga Hiashi?"
Neji flinches. Briefly. Barely visible; painfully obvious. He sneers in retaliation, as if the assassin cared what he thinks of it. The palms of his hands tingle with a suppressed charge.
The assassin glances down at them. It shouldn't be able to see.
"Why," Neji counters, not so much soft as carefully smoothed, "do you care?"
"It might become pertinent later."
Neji hisses between his clenched teeth, and puts his feelings away. If he isn't allowed to kill the Hyuugas, no one else will.
"Who paid you?" he asks calmly, and slowly moves in the open space, where no chairs or wastebaskets will get in his way. He's still holding his crouch.
The assassin doesn't move, unnaturally still as it stands over the two crumpled bodies. It hasn't moved at all since Neji walked in. Only its hair; the fan is still whirring softly on a desk behind it.
The computer is whirring too.
"No one."
"That was -- personal?" Neji asks; he doesn't care, he just wants something to say as he steps to the side again -- there's a cable, snaking from the computer to lose itself in a smooth black ponytail.
Outrage; it's stealing data -- whatever! It's tethered. Thin cable, will break easy -- might damage its ports though, that's --
"Don't."
It isn't so much the quiet order that stops him, as the amused undertones. He looks up; the face is a mask, empty and smooth and surprisingly aesthetical. The eyes are red and non-organic and mocking. This isn't an AI, is it? They don't express such subtle feelings in that way.
"I won't let you touch me."
It knows. It knows about Neji's bioelectrical implants. How? They're an exclusive of the Hyuuga corporation. Neji sneers again; he only needs to brush against his armor, just once. It's a toss-up; if he can dodge fast enough...
A blade long like his forearm springs out of the back of the assassin's other hand.
Well. Damn.
"Why do you read as Hyuuga Hiashi?" it repeats smoothly, the blade a dull black that seems to absorb the stark light of the room.
"Why don't you hack into our computers and find out?"
This time it actually snorts. "I will. Later." And reaches up to free the data cable from its port.
Neji strikes, twisting to avoid the blades.
He doesn't die, because the carpet is damp with blood and his foot slips. He doesn't die and it doesn't even hurt; a line of cool dampness against the left side of his chest, ending at his shoulder. In his shoulder. He strikes again, a knee on the floor, aiming for a leg -- the assassin leaps over, lands on a desk.
Its armor is even lighter than Neji thought; the desk barely dents at all. It groans, high-pitched enough to hurt teeth as the assassin shifts, aims its strike. Neji climbs back on his feet; he wants to face his death standing.
Behind them, someone screams. The desk creaks. Neji lifts his hands -- not fast enough -- where is it?
It's crouching on the edge of the window -- blades gone -- Neji doesn't know how he manages to duck the sudden jet of fire. He rolls on the carpet, bumps against the secretary's desk -- pure instinct makes him crawl in the leg space and topple it over his body.
The fire roars on the other side of his shelter. The sprinklers hiss, drenching him. The alarms howl. The interloper is still screaming. He waits for a heartbeat, two, then peeks out quickly -- the window is empty.
The computer is a melted mess of plastic and metal bits. The bodies are charred. Dark smoke fills the other end of the office. Quickly -- in case the assassin is still hiding behind another desk, however unlikely he finds it -- Neji dashes to the door, shoving the spectator along through it.
The heavy fire doors farther down the corridor burst open; Neji pauses, long enough to be recognized, then leans against the wall as security mills around them.
He's vaguely amused that a heavy, fortysomething corporate shark could even scream that loudly.
Someone's talking to him -- security? Paramedic, the badge says. Huh. He can't hear; the siren is still howling, and
he's sitting on the floor. Huh. No white carpet here. Smooth marble. Cool under his hands. White and black, veined -- a red drop.
"... Oh."
Now, of course, it starts to hurt. The colors bleed back into his world; the paramedic has a forest green armband, the corporate screamer a dark blue suit. The walls are cream. He doesn't move as the medic applies pressure to his wound. He's shivering a little. It's just shock; it will pass in a minute.
"Neji."
Hyuuga Hiashi is standing in front of him. He looks angry, sterner than usual, as he stares at the damp, bloody, shredded shirt as if it was a personal affront. Neji clenches his teeth. "You'll have a scar," he comments, maybe a bit snidely.
Something in Hiashi's face tightens. Neji is satisfied. He pushes the paramedic away and straightens up, making sure to stand straight. He doesn't want more questions, so he starts talking first; "Assassin. Light armor, male body type, killed Tanaka-san and Midori-san's secretary before hacking into a company computer."
Hiashi's expression darkens even more, and his eyes narrow. Midori-san has heard his name, and gets into Neji's face, demanding more details. Neji would shove him away, but he can't be that impolite to the host; but Hiashi cuts his business partner short. "My nephew was injured. He almost got killed. He will answer the police's questions later, when he's feeling better; for now he's going home. Come along, Neji."
Neji pushes away from the wall, refusing the hand one of Hiashi's bodyguards offers him, and follows on his heels. He knows he won't see the police before Hiashi and his executive board are done debriefing him. It doesn't much matter; he's used to lying to the authorities by now.
He doesn't relish the prospect of facing that bunch of old vipers. No doubt they will berate him for being reckless; did he think about how much it would cost the Hyuuga to replace him?
No. No, he didn't. He could have run, he knows he could have. There would have been a chance that the assassin wouldn't have been quick enough to catch up.
He's just a clone after all. What does it matter if he dies, in the end. What does it matter to anyone but him.
He didn't run; didn't even think of it. He stayed; he fought. They can't take that away from him. He steels himself, holds close the memory of dull black and blood red death. The feeling of being alive. It's his, nothing but his.
He's still cold; his clothes are damp and stick to his skin. He doesn't let the bodyguard drape a vest across his shoulders as they leave the building. He sinks in the limousine's cushions and closes his eyes, and hopes he scars so thick no surgery will ever erase it.
Well, at least he dodged the rest of the reception.
+
Is that plot I see? It does look like it, indeed.
Too bad I've got no clue where it's going or how it's going to influe on Sasuke's. XD
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*rolls a little in Neji POV, too*
Very interesting. And plot is good. I'm sure there has to be a way this can tie into Sasuke's stuff.
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You've managed to come up with an explanation of why Neji would hate his family that fits really well with this AU world.
I also just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the other ficlet as well; where Sasuke mets Sakura; XD the way Sakura described meeting Naruto was just too perfect. XD
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*snerk* wasn't it so totally fitting. XD
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What a lovely surprise to come to at my lunch break. XD I can always count on you for good fiction.
But yes... ITANEJI! *swoons*
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*petcuddles right back* Woo! petcuddling! Just what I needed today. However did you know?
*reads fiction again, just because it's awesome like that*
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X3 you'd think Itachi would be WiFi, considering his tie-breaking with the Uchihas. heeee. Poor Neji, needing to define himself even though he's a clone(nice way to define him in this universe, btw. eee).
*HUGSQUISHES*
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haha. XD Itachi is, but the computer wouldn't be; if there's sensitive info on it, it's not going to be linked to the internet in a way that's so easy to break into.
*squished!!* :O
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Itachi is an ANBU model. XD It's really a normal model at its basis, but with speshul upgrades. Sasuke might be the latest cop model, but -- yeah. not quite enough.
*cuddlecuddle* thank you! *squish*
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Hyuuga Hiashi is standing in front of him. He looks angry, sterner than usual, as he stares at the damp, bloody, shredded shirt as if it was a personal affront. Neji clenches his teeth. "You'll have a scar," he comments, maybe a bit snidely.
It is Neji talking there, right?
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*has nightmares about Alien BECAUSE OF YOU*
*but they're all sexy neji and itachi aliens, so you are forgiven*
>_>;
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*spits acidy goo OF LOVE*
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Yuum. I really do love this AU you have going on. You make it fit in so well with what's canon (bioelectrical implants? <3). And plot! dfslkj!! *incoherent with love*